NYPD K-9 from LI hurt in subway fight recovering

With both their injuries apparent, Officer Vincent Tieniber, 36, shows his police dog Bear's broken teeth at One Police Plaza. The two are recovering from injuries suffered after they tried to break up a fight on the southbound platform of the No. 4 subway at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, police said. (June 19, 2013) Photo Credit: Craig Ruttle

With both their injuries apparent, Officer Vincent Tieniber, 36, shows his police dog Bear's broken teeth at One Police Plaza. The two are recovering from injuries suffered after they tried to break up a fight on the southbound platform of the No. 4 subway at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, police said. (June 19, 2013) (Credit: Craig Ruttle)

Bear -- an NYPD K-9 Transit Police dog -- was recovering nicely Wednesday after a confrontation with a woman who, police said, kicked him twice in the face as his human partner, Officer Vincent Tieniber, struggled to put handcuffs on her.

"He's fine. He's back to acting like a typical dog," said Tieniber Wednesday of his loyal canine partner, a 6-year-old brown and tan German shepherd. The...

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Bear -- an NYPD K-9 Transit Police dog -- was recovering nicely Wednesday after a confrontation with a woman who, police said, kicked him twice in the face as his human partner, Officer Vincent Tieniber, struggled to put handcuffs on her.

"He's fine. He's back to acting like a typical dog," said Tieniber Wednesday of his loyal canine partner, a 6-year-old brown and tan German shepherd. The dog lives with the Tieniber family in Suffolk County.

"He watches my back and I watch his back," said the officer, 36, who has worked with him for five years. "We all love him very much." Tieniber is married and has two children, ages 3 and 6.

Tieniber said his partner was impressive during the arrest Tuesday morning on a Manhattan subway platform because he did not waver from his duty as the two tried to break up a fight.

The altercation started about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday on the No. 4 southbound platform at East 59th Street and Lexington Avenue station. Police said a 19-year-old woman was choking another 19-year-old woman.

When Officer Rafael Diaz tried to stop them, two other women, ages 31 and 22, pushed Diaz, police said. That's when Bear and Tieniber showed up and the dog clamped down on the women's shoes. "He just growled when she kicked him," said Tieniber. "Bear just bit onto her shoe and didn't let go until she was cuffed."

The shepherd suffered four cracked teeth and his tongue and inside lip were also cut. His canine teeth will have to be capped, but otherwise, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan pronounced him fit for duty.Ravenia Matos-Davis, 22, of Queens, was charged with injuring a police animal, a class A misdemeanor, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Alexandria James, 19, of the Bronx, was charged with strangulation and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Her alleged victim sustained bruising, scratches, and neck pain but refused medical attention.

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